Best Litterbox? Best Litter Mat?

zoeysmom

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We're moving (YAY!), which means that I'll finally get the litterbox out of the bathroom. Right now, I use a regular covered litter box (w/wbcl) and a small paw shaped rubber litter mat like this: http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=6528


I have no idea where I'm going to put the litter box in the new apartment, but either way, I think it's time to replace both of these items. While the covered box and the mat cut down on quite a bit of the tracking, we still get a lot of litter on the floor (thanks to Belle, who hops out of the box with a little kickity-kick). Also, I think the girls would appreciate a bit more room than their current box allows.

So, I've seen lots of suggestions for litter boxes and mats in other threads, but I figured we could accumulate the votes for your bests here! Your suggestion can be a store-bought made for pets, or something else you've found effective (ie. rubbermaid boxes/towels, etc.)

SO....what's the best litter box solution that you have used

And, you best litter mat solution?
 

laureen227

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well, 1st off, all of mine are in closets. the floors in my house are sheet vinyl [i have wall-to-wall vinyl
] but i've put rugs in the closets before putting the boxes in. then, in the bedroom, the doorway has one of these mats. the hallway closet door stays almost closed - i have a brick there to prevent complete closing. evidently squeezing thru the opening helps some to keep the litter inside the closet.
still get some tracking, but not too bad. i don't notice it when i walk past the closets, anyway.
 

plebayo

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I have the booda dome clean step litter box. If you have cats that use the box regularly but not overly so it definitley helps with litter tracking. When I had two cats one of them had constant urinary tract issues and he would track a lot of litter out of the box. Napolean doesn't track much litter so it depends on the cat. I like this box more than the square covered one I had. Even with a rug the litter would get tracked all over. The steps with the booda dome catch a lot of the tracked litter.
 

hwc

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I cannot say enough good things about the large size Omega Paws Roll 'N Clean boxes. These things are amazing.


I keep them filled about three inches deep. Started out changing the box after one month. Realized that it didn't need it and now go two months between complete changes (of course, I'm replacing all that litter every few weeks just from daily dumping and topping up).

I finally took one out to hose off this weekend while changing it -- after about five months of use. It didn't really need it.

I roll 'n dump the drawer once a day with two cats. No mess, no fuss. They track very little out of the box. Vacuum around the box a couple of times a week. The thing that amazes me is my one kitty that is a "side-pee-er", in the same place every time so it just forms one huge clump stuck to a side and bottom corner. The kind that is impossible to get out with a scoop. With this box, I roll it halfway over, give a thump, and the clump falls from the bottom into the drawer every time.
 

Willowy

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Originally Posted by laureen227

well, 1st off, all of mine are in closets. the floors in my house are sheet vinyl [i have wall-to-wall vinyl
]
Cool! I want to do my house in wall-to-wall vinyl......so much easier to clean! How do you like it? I grew up in military housing, and alll the housing we lived in had only vinyl floors. So I thought it was normal until my dad retired and we bought a (civilian) house. That had carpet everywhere, even in the bathroom and kitchen!



I use 18-gallon Sterilite totes as litterboxes. I measure 5 inches up from the bottom, them cut a hole from there to the handle. I don't put the lids on because the cats don't care for them, and neither do I. I love the totes and I don't think I'll ever use a "real" litterbox again. For mats.....well, I just put a throw rug in front of them and shake it out frequently. I've never found a litter mat that I really liked.
 

gingersmom

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I use the jumbo Van Ness covered litter boxes with Petmate litter mats. I love the Petmate mats the best because they are soft to the touch yet hold a LOT of litter, which can be easily shaken out/vacuumed up.
 

white cat lover

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I use 18 Gal Rubbermaid tubs - with holes cut in the lid. Presto change-o .... top entry litterpan.
For mats - I buy cheap rugs (like clearance, or out of the dollar store). They often hold litter well, and clean up easily.
 

laureen227

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Originally Posted by Willowy

Cool! I want to do my house in wall-to-wall vinyl......so much easier to clean! How do you like it?
i like it fine. i'd've loved to have gotten wood or laminate floors, but i just couldn't afford the difference. since the vinyl & carpet needed replacing when i bought the house, i just requested that it all be vinyl, instead.
 

Willowy

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Originally Posted by white cat lover

I use 18 Gal Rubbermaid tubs - with holes cut in the lid. Presto change-o .... top entry litterpan.
.
I did that with a couple.....but I and the cats prefer the side entries. I left 2 with the top entries and cut the rest on the side.
 

littleraven7726

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Originally Posted by Willowy

I use 18-gallon Sterilite totes as litterboxes. I measure 5 inches up from the bottom, them cut a hole from there to the handle. I don't put the lids on because the cats don't care for them, and neither do I. I love the totes and I don't think I'll ever use a "real" litterbox again. For mats.....well, I just put a throw rug in front of them and shake it out frequently. I've never found a litter mat that I really liked.
Originally Posted by white cat lover

I use 18 Gal Rubbermaid tubs - with holes cut in the lid. Presto change-o .... top entry litterpan.
For mats - I buy cheap rugs (like clearance, or out of the dollar store). They often hold litter well, and clean up easily.
I also use Rubbermaid (or Sterilite) storage totes. I cut a hole in the side for them to get in. I have a senior with arthritis, so top entry boxes are not an option.

Our "litter mat" is a cheapo area rug from Menard's. It was around $25 and covers a pretty large area where the boxes are. We have hardwood throughout our house, so before the area rug litter tracking was awful.
 

tweetykiss

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I found tidy cats to be good litter. It does not smell and even though my kitty seems to get some litter on the floor, it is not much. Then I put the tidy cats deoderizer powder on the litter after I remove the poops everyday.
 

farleyv

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think out of the box. I went to our local Tractor Supply and bought a very large feed bin something that maybe sheep would eat out of. It is approx 38 inches by 24 inches. It holds 40 lbs of litter. The sides are curved where they meet the bottom so cleaning is a breeze. Made out of hard molded rubber. I have 7 cats that use it. It is in a large closet. The sides are much higher than regular litter boxes. So there is no spillage when digging. Never had one not use it. There is always a clean space for them to step. I often wonder who designs litter boxes; do they have cats?
 

twstychik

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For those of you using plastic totes, how do you cut your holes? I LOVE using the tubs because they are big and tall enough for both my cats but it's time to replace one and I have such a hard time cutting a straight and clean hole. I usually end up lining it with duct tape to hide/protect the jagged edges.
 

madara

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Thoughts on placement? I have two litter boxes for my one cat but in separate rooms. He use to pee in one when I had a cover but since there was not enough room for his huge size came out too wet now he does not use the second just does everything in the first one which is open too. Maybe I should just put them next to each other? If I would add a second cat I would like to know best placement to keep the peace as well. Do I really need four in row or is three enough?
 

littleraven7726

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Originally Posted by madara

Thoughts on placement? I have two litter boxes for my one cat but in separate rooms. He use to pee in one when I had a cover but since there was not enough room for his huge size came out too wet now he does not use the second just does everything in the first one which is open too. Maybe I should just put them next to each other? If I would add a second cat I would like to know best placement to keep the peace as well. Do I really need four in row or is three enough?
I have 3 in a row, for 3 cats, in my spare room.
 

laureen227

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Originally Posted by twstychik

For those of you using plastic totes, how do you cut your holes? I LOVE using the tubs because they are big and tall enough for both my cats but it's time to replace one and I have such a hard time cutting a straight and clean hole. I usually end up lining it with duct tape to hide/protect the jagged edges.
one of these works best. scissors tend to make them splinter, & knives give you that sharp edge.
 

Willowy

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A professional hot knife would work best. But I just turn on a burner on the stove and heat an old knife on it, cut the plastic until the knife is too cool to cut, then wipe the melted plastic off the knife onto a paper towel, and repeat. This is very smelly and will set off the smoke alarm, so if you try that be really careful!!! And open a window. And only use an old knife you don't really want anymore.
 

twstychik

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I've gotta run to my hardware store for some crib parts so I'll see if they have a hot knife. If not, I can't believe I never thought of using the stove and a regular knife. Thanks for the ideas!
 

ut0pia

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I have this litter mat:
http://www.unbeatablesale.com/ctsr00...ci_sku=CTSR005
It is large, pretty and it works very well for me. The only downside is that kitties love to scratch it and they scratch it up pretty fast....Then I need to replace it. But overall it's awesome it's almost like a rug and keeps the tracked litter in place- even if you step on the mat the litter will not get on your feet!! It's so big that I put the litter box on one corner of the mat and there is still a lot of space around it...
 

mykittygizmo

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For litter. I absolutely love Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Ultra Scoopable Litter. I buy the 40lb bag and it lasts a month! There is hardly any smell till the end of the month when its time to change.

However, I really need to find a better litter box! We have 2 for 3 cats. One is HUGE (xtra large) one and a mid-size one but holy litter tracks all over! we have hardwood floors and I clean every day!! How do you get them to stop???
It's such a pain the butt!
 
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